Publisher's Synopsis
Did you know that bees have been around for over 100 million years? Or that the Brehon Laws included judgments about the rightful ownership of swarms? And why do Irish beekeepers plant bluebells around their hives? Bees are amazing creatures: from the perfection of their hexagonal honeycomb to their ordered matriarchal society, there is much to admire about these tiny insects. A beekeeper's daughter and a student of folklore, Eimear Chaomhánach weaves folktales about bees with memories of growing up in a beekeeping household, collecting swarms with her father and learning how to harvest honey. From the role of bees in the lives of Irish saints and the philosopher Aristotle to the practice of 'telling the bees', this is a fascinating look at the customs, beliefs and traditions about bees and beekeeping, which are still alive today.
